N.C. Transportation Museum ready for next chapter

The massive Back Shop building at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in Spencer. Museum will be asking the state legislature for funds to complete the building for exhibits which include this project. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

The 25th annual Furnituredland Chapter Antique Automobile Show was held at the N.C. Transportation Museum. Ralph Newsome's 1932 Ford Cabriolet is in the center nearest the camera. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, Salisbury Post

The North Carolina Transportation museum recently opened a new exhibit in the Roundhouse. A lifesize replica of the Wright Brothers flying machine. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

By Hugh Fisher

hfisher@salisburypost.com

SPENCER — Roy Johnson, president of the N.C. Transportation Museum Foundation, is looking ahead to a bright new year.

Under his leadership, the organization is making changes to protect itself, and is thriving despite a down economy.

"We're trying to tell the full story of how transportation developed North Carolina," he said.

The N.C. Transportation Museum Foundation provides fundraising and political advocacy for the 57-acre museum.

In particular, the foundation has helped acquire millions of dollars in historic artifacts for the museum.

Johnson, a Charlotte-based architect, has been president of the foundation since June.

Under his tenure, the museum has weathered continued fiscal belt-tightening by the state of North Carolina, and has seen visitors to the Spencer museum it supports increase by 15 percent.

The most immediate change is being made for the board's protection.

In December, at Johnson's behest, the board adopted a policy under which any financial transaction of $50,000 or greater must be discussed and voted on at a full board meeting.

The change comes in the wake of an incident involving former foundation board member Knox Bridges of Salisbury. Bridges, who had served on the museum board for more than a decade, approached board members this summer with a plan to invest $600,000 with the Minneapolis-based Lindbergh Foundation.

Bridges was president of that organization, which promotes aviation in memory of famous flyer Charles Lindbergh.

A May 2006 Salisbury Post story detailed Bridges' friendship with Reeve Lindbergh, the flyer's daughter, and her visit to the N.C. Transportation Museum.

But this year, questions began to arise about his handling of money and goods for those, and other, organizations.

An Oct. 12 Charlotte Observer article reported that Bridges had been removed as president of the Lindbergh Foundation in July, and was being asked to repay $600,000 that group had given him to invest.

Johnson said Bridges approached the N.C. Transportation Museum Board for money, but that members embraced the transaction "... without realizing that it was being used to temporarily settle a debt with the Lindbergh Foundation."

But, Johnson says, they had no reason not to trust Bridges at the time.

"He was known to everyone on the board," he said. "We all, I think, had a high degree of trust in him."

When officials in Minnesota received the money from the foundation, they contacted the Transportation Museum and raised questions.

For their part, Johnson said the incident was resolved quickly and favorably, once the Lindbergh Foundation shared what it knew.

"We had Glenn Hayes, the foundation's attorney, get in touch with an attorney representing Knox Bridges," Johnson said.

He said a settlement was reached for the full amount of the money given to Bridges, plus lost interest and attorneys' fees.

Bridges resigned from the Transportation Museum Foundation board in September.

"And that was the end of it, as far as we were concerned," Johnson said.

Foundation board member Sturges Bryan downplayed the matter.

"We've already moved on," he said. "That was an unfortunate incident."

The Post attempted unsuccessfully to contact Bridges for comment, leaving messages at two phone numbers, including one listed for his South Ellis Street home.

A woman answering the phone at his home said he was out of town and that she had no other information.

Bridges' attorney could not immediately be reached for comment.

New opportunities

The coming year will present new opportunities for the foundation, which since 1977 has turned the former railway hub into what Bryan called "North Carolina's best-kept secret."

But challenges, especially with regard to finances, still remain.

Increased support of the museum is one of the foundation's goals.

Bryan said Linda Carlisle, secretary of Cultural Resources, has visited the museum.

"Roy and I have both met her and we are very encouraged," he said.

But the recent economic crisis resulted in the state government taking back almost $2.2 million in funds allocated to restore buildings at the site.

Most importantly, the powerhouse — where steam-powered generators formerly provided electricity to the railroad shops — needs a new roof.

The original roof collapsed due to decay about three years ago.

"Meanwhile, we're exposed to the elements," Bryan said.

The powerhouse is critical to further repairs at the 100,000-square-foot Back Shop, which has just been the target of a multimillion-dollar restoration effort.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning hardware for the Back Shop will be housed in the powerhouse, which is meant to be restored as an exhibit hall.

"We can't do anything else in the Back Shop building until we can get a roof on that building," Bryan said.

In the meantime, heat and cold and moisture are building up to cause what he called a "rain forest effect" inside the Back Shop, which could eventually cause it to decay.

But he said an increased focus on historic preservation at other state sites, such as Fort Dobbs, gives him hope.

"If they can do that there, then I hope the state will take the lead and help us accomplish what needs to be done here.

"We are probably the largest drawing card Rowan County has at this point, other than Dan Nicholas Park, and that is a different type of draw," he said.

Secret is out

Johnson said an ongoing challenge is publicity — making tourists across the state and the region aware of the Transportation Museum.

And more and more visitors are aware of the area's "best-kept secret," as the attendance numbers show.

The number of visitors grew from 95,000 in 2008 to more than 105,000 in 2009.

"The economy has helped us as much as it's hurt us," he said.

But advertising and publicity efforts continue around the state and the region.

Another challenge is identity, making sure people know the Transportation Museum is focused on more than just trains.

Even so, Johnson said Thomas the Tank Engine and Santa Train events have been major draws.

And the buildings of the former Southern Railway facility preserve sights lost to much of the nation from the golden age of rail travel.

"It's a very rare place you can go to see a roundhouse and turntable still in operation," Johnson said.

But the new Wright Brothers exhibit underscores the scope of the N.C. Transportation Museum.

"We're comprehensive, from railroads to trucking, to automobiles, and now aviation and also waterways," Bryan said.

If and when the Back Shop is completed, an even larger number of automobiles and other types of exhibits can go on display.

"That would allow us to tell the story of transportation with a higher degree of sophistication," he said.

In the meantime, Johnson said he's proud of the investment in time and knowledge of the museum staff and volunteers.

And he's glad to have room at the site for continued growth, as opposed to being constrained by space.

"That's a good problem to have," he said.

The key to the N.C. Transportation Museum's future, he said, is sustainable growth.

"We're 31 years into the mission," Johnson said. "Steady progress is the key."